Six GoodGymers joined in on Saturday’s Project with the Thames Landscape Strategy and Habitats and Heritage working on The National Trust hedgerow on Petersham Meadows at Chitty Hole. Ken gave us a bit of background on the area and explained that the name derives from a Mr Chitty who had a boathouse in roughly the spot we were working (see photo from ca. 1910).

We welcomed back Charlotte, last seen balsam bashing pre-pandemic, and Eva who had been away from GoodGym for some years after joining in Lambeth.

Ken was coordinating the work between the GoodGym gang and a number of youths doing their Duke of Edinburgh Awards on the same task. We got stuck in culling brambles and blackthorn to prepare the area to lay the hedgerow at a future date. A ton of thorny brambles and some rather spiky blackthorn proved no hindrance despite some of the thorns making it right through the soles of our trainers! We made a sizeable dent in the task ready for the next time we return to complete the habitat improvements.

If you are interested in returning contact Sam or JP for future volunteer opportunities at Chitty Hole and to learn about hedgerow laying with Ken.